Foreign Body, Esophagus

Clinical Presentation:
Dysphagia, increased salivation and drooling, and refusal to feed.
With prolonged impaction the patient can develop paraesophageal edema
and may have inspiratory and expiratory stridor.

Etiology/Pathophysiology:
Most ingested esophageal foreign bodies pass unhindered through the
GI system. Narrowed places for the foreign body to lodge include at
the thoracic inlet just below the cricopharyngeus muscle (75%), at
the aortic arch (20%), and at the gastroesophageal junction (5%).
Ultimately if the foreign body is not removed the patient can develop
esophageal ulceration, perforation, or stricture.

Pathology:
Not applicable

Imaging Findings:
If the object is radiopaque it is often easily seen on the CXR. Coins
lodge in an enface orientation in the esophagus on the AP film,
unlike in the trachea where they lodge in an onedge orientation on
the AP film.

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